The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is expected to allocate approximately N307.6 billion for the mobilization and payment of allowances to corps members, according to a report by DrivetvNews.
This projection follows an increase in corps members’ monthly stipends from N33,000 to N77,000, as announced by the NYSC in September 2024. The adjustment was made after the passage of a new minimum wage law in May 2024.
Annually, the NYSC organizes mobilization in three batches—A, B, and C—across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Each orientation camp accommodates between 1,200 and 1,500 corps members per exercise, leading to an estimated 55,500 corps members per batch. This results in an annual total of approximately 333,000 corps members.
With the new N77,000 monthly stipend, the cost per batch amounts to N25.64 billion, bringing the annual expenditure for corps members’ allowances to N307.6 billion.
In the 2025 budget proposal, President Bola Tinubu allocated N430.7 billion to the NYSC, the highest in five years. Of this amount, N372.9 billion (86.5%) was designated for corps members’ stipends.
However, despite the announcement on September 25, 2024, the revised allowance had not been implemented five months later. The payment was initially expected to begin in February 2025, but delays arose due to the absence of necessary financial backing.
NYSC’s acting Director of Press and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, confirmed the delay, stating that the required funds were still pending.
Additionally, a WhatsApp message reportedly from NYSC Director-General, Brig. Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, assured that the payments would commence in March 2025.
Attempts to reach the NYSC spokesperson for further clarification were unsuccessful, as calls and messages went unanswered.
